The Meaning of Psalms 47:4 Explained

Psalms 47:4

KJV: He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.

YLT: He doth choose for us our inheritance, The excellency of Jacob that He loves. Selah.

Darby: He hath chosen our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.

ASV: He chooseth our inheritance for us, The glory of Jacob whom he loved. Selah

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He shall choose  our inheritance  for us, the excellency  of Jacob  whom he loved.  Selah. 

What does Psalms 47:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 47:1-9 - "king Over All The Earth"
This psalm may have been sung in the valley of Berachah, where Jehoshaphat celebrated his victory over the Moabites. See 2 Chronicles 20:1-37. When some great deliverance has been granted, we should break out in blessing and praise. Notice Psalms 47:3-4! They are rightly placed side by side; because God will not subdue our enemies under us, unless we have allowed Him to choose our life-plan. Live on that plan and you are unconquerable.
In the second division, Psalms 47:5-9, Jehovah is depicted as returning from the war to his dwelling-place in the height of Zion. This seems to anticipate the Ascension, when Jesus became the enthroned King of men. They fail to recognize Him now, but some day the princes of the people shall be gathered together, and the kingdoms of the world shall have become the one kingdom of the Christ, Revelation 15:4. The shields of the earth, Psalms 47:9, are its princes and leaders. See Hosea 4:18, r.v., margin. The kings of wealth, science, art, literature, and power will one day bring their glory and honor into the gates of the New Jerusalem, Revelation 1:5; Revelation 21:24. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 47

1  The nations are exhorted cheerfully to entertain the kingdom of Christ

What do the individual words in Psalms 47:4 mean?

He will choose for us - our inheritance - the excellence of Jacob whom He loves Selah
יִבְחַר־ לָ֥נוּ אֶת־ נַחֲלָתֵ֑נוּ אֶ֥ת גְּא֨וֹן יַעֲקֹ֖ב אֲשֶׁר־ אָהֵ֣ב סֶֽלָה

יִבְחַר־  He  will  choose 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּחוּר 
Sense: to choose, elect, decide for.
לָ֥נוּ  for  us 
Parse: Preposition, first person common plural
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
נַחֲלָתֵ֑נוּ  our  inheritance 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common plural
Root: נַחֲלָה  
Sense: possession, property, inheritance, heritage.
אֶ֥ת  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
גְּא֨וֹן  the  excellence 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: גָּאֹון  
Sense: exaltation, majesty, pride.
יַעֲקֹ֖ב  of  Jacob 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יַעֲקֹב  
Sense: son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 2 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel.
אֲשֶׁר־  whom 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
אָהֵ֣ב  He  loves 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָהַב  
Sense: to love.
סֶֽלָה  Selah 
Parse: Interjection
Root: סֶלָה  
Sense: to lift up, exalt.